Austin Reaves Trade Reportedly Not Eyed by Lakers Unless It Gets Team 'Top-Tier Big'
The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly aren't interested in trading guard Austin Reaves unless a specific opportunity presents itself.
According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers would only consider moving Reaves if it is in exchange for "a top-tier big."
While a big-time interior presence would be the ideal complement to LeBron James and Luka Dončić, Woike noted that it doesn't appear any are available on the trade market.
After acquiring Dončić in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks this season, the Lakers went on an impressive run down the stretch and secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
However, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated them in the first round in five games, and L.A.'s lack of quality frontcourt play was the biggest reason why.
In order to get Dončić, the Lakers had to part with Anthony Davis. Although it made sense given that AD is six years older than Dončić and prone to injury, it left the Lakers with an obvious weakness on the interior.
The T-Wolves took advantage of that with a big lineup that included Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels, and the Lakers had no answer.
Per Woike, the Lakers' scouts and executives in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine have spoken openly about the team's need for a center, which is consistent with what general manager Rob Pelinka has already said.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported earlier this month that Pelinka told reporters adding size at the center position is "one of our primary goals" this offseason.
Reaves is the most intriguing trade piece the Lakers can offer outside of James and Dončić, but it is easy to understand why they would rather keep him.
The soon-to-be 27-year-old is coming off a career year that saw him average 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 three-pointers made and 1.1 steals per game, making him the ideal third scoring option behind James and Dončić.
He is also playing on a team-friendly contract. Reaves is set to make $13.9 million next season with a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27.
Reaves struggled during the Lakers' playoff series against Minnesota, averaging 16.2 points per game on only 41.1 percent shooting, but it was only a five-game sample size, and he had more success in his previous two playoff runs.
Woike named Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton and Mavericks center Daniel Gafford as the two bigs who have most often been linked to the Lakers leading up to the offseason.
Both are solid players who would undoubtedly fill a need for the Lakers, but neither is an All-Star-caliber performer, so it is unlikely that Reaves would have to be included in a deal to land either of them.
If the Lakers can add Claxton or Gafford without having to give up much from the core they already have in place, it would make them a far more complete team entering the 2025-26 campaign.
